Do you REALLY want to know why your house is not selling?

Cathy Tarrant | January 1, 2017

Why isn’t your house selling?

In any market conditions, it’s frustrating when your house doesn’t sell.

The decision to sell your home is a big one, so I would bet that you’ve already made a plan to relocate, move to a new city, or pursue work or study opportunities elsewhere. Maybe you’ve even made steps to get your plan started.

But why isn’t your house selling?

There are several possible reasons. Perhaps you’ve already thought of a few yourself. When faced with selling your home, sometimes it’s difficult to be honest with yourself. For that reason, I need to ask you:

Do you really want to know why you have no offers on your house yet?

It might be because:

The listing price is too high.

– Your house is ultimately worth what a buyer will pay for it, not what you think it is worth. This can be frustrating for some people, because while properties tend to appreciate over the long term, it is possible for the value of a home to decrease from one year to the next (or over a span of a few years, even up to 5-6 years.

Your home doesn’t show well.

– If your house is cluttered or needs updates and repairs, you’re leaving money on the table. Expect a low ball offer, because a house that hasn’t been updated or maintained will seem to be in disrepair. Buyers are not going to want to pay a high price for a home that will require pricey upgrades after purchase.

Your home is too taste specific.

– You may have spent $XXX on custom drapery. Your china doll collection could be the best on the planet. You might be totally in love with that hand-painted stencil you did on the wall. I hate to break it to you: prospective buyers of your home don’t care. They are likely going to remove your curtains, paint over your stencil, and they are certainly not going to be attracted to the spare bedroom where your doll collection lives.

Your home is in a poor location.

– This is the one factor you cannot change. It’s a sticking point that can throw off the sale of your house. That is why it is so important to eliminate all the other negatives that might keep somebody from being interested in purchasing your home, all the while playing up every positive asset your home has to offer.

Marketing of your house is ineffective.

– This is common, but people rarely think about it. This is what real estate agents do, right? They market your house for you? In reality, you cannot get offers if nobody knows about your house and nobody will know about it unless it is well advertised and marketed to the target audience. Do some research or ask your real estate agent how you can collaborate to make the marketing of your home more effective.

Your home has poor curb appeal.

– Most potential buyers will do a drive-by of your home to help them decide if they want to see the inside. First time home buyers especially drive around a neighbourhood to see if they like the “feel” of the homes for sale in the area. Often the curb appeal, or how a home looks from the outside, is important in deciding whether to pursue a viewing of the home or not. Many home sellers neglect this and it results in much fewer viewings. On top of all this, the condition of the outside of a home is considered an indication of the inside. Make sure you reel them in with their first look!

Prospective buyers have limited accessibility to view your home.

– Buyers are busy today. There are a LOT of homes available on the market. Especially in a buyer’s market where the supply of homes available is high, prospective buyers are not going to spend hours trying to get in to take a look at your home. If it’s a hassle to get a showing, they will often move on to your neighbours who are selling their house on the next street.

Do you really want to know how to get offers on your house?

List your house at a realistic price.

– Listen to your Realtor’s advice.

Make your house move-in ready.

– By updating flooring, countertops, bathroom fixtures, faucets, etc. Repair all those little items you have been putting off, such as a cracked tile, leaky faucet, squeaky floor, etc. De-clutter every room and paint in neutral colors to appeal to as many people as possible.

Remove all taste specific items.

– and features such as elaborate window draperies, collections of any kind, diplomas, trophies and certificates and personal photos.

You cannot change the location but you can play up all positive aspects of the house to downplay that negative.

Choose a Realtor who is an aggressive marketer.

– The more people that know your house is for sale, the more viewings you will get and therefore the probability of more offers.

Ramp up that curb appeal.

– You will get more viewers without a doubt. Ensure the grounds are immaculate, trim shrubs and trees that may be blocking the windows, remove children’s toys, gardening tools, garbage containers, etc. Plant some brightly colored flowers near the entrance, replace your door hardware, doorbell, mailbox or house numbers if needed. Stain the deck, steps, and railings if necessary. Touch up the paint on the windows or house as needed.

Make your home available for viewings.

– Prospective buyers should be able to view the home at a moments’ notice. Have a lock box installed so that any Realtor can bring their client to see your house. If buyers are thwarted in their attempt to see your house when it is convenient for them, they will often move on. Many times it is inconvenient to have viewings but if you are serious about selling you will have to put up with it for a while.

These factors deserve some serious thought if you’re wondering why your home isn’t getting any offers. There are many steps for a home buyer to go through, and you don’t need to put obstacles in their way, or offer them easy objections for why your home may not be the right choice.

The easier you can make the steps for a prospective home buyer, the more likely it will be to attract viewers and more offers.